Living in Menton, France along the Cote d'Azur, children's author Kate Banks and her husband Pierluigi Mezzomo found the house of their dreams. Just a ten-minute drive from the Italian border, the 2,368 square foot house sits surrounded by citrus, palm and cyprus trees that the couple and their two sons have planted...
The home was built in 1901 and has the name Villa Bois Joli, or Pretty Wood. The owners have kept many of the original details. While we find the exterior curb appeal and setting to be superb, we can imagine so much more for this beautiful home with 11.5' ceilings! Check out the story: In France, a Creative Country House and slideshow from The New York Times and see if you agree...
Lovely marble stairs and tiles...
Kate Banks' study.
Cool doll's house in an extra bedroom!
Stained glass in the bathroom.
The lush yard surrounding the house.
The view from the house, looking towards the Italian border.
(Pics: Richard Harbus)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
WOW. Can I live in the guest room?
view clatimer07's profile
I cry with envy.
view Christopher's profile
Mamma Mia! Che bella!!
view luigilly's profile
Like a real life Thomas Mcknight picture
view Kate (NC)'s profile
apartmenttherapy- you guys are mean. Now aallllllll day I will be fighting off envy.
Beautiful location. Tell them I am moving in. :)
view annaland's profile
oh my. showing me this just feels like an evil punishment as I sit in a cramped, dark space! what a lovely home!
view kittyj's profile
I notice lots of bare floors - few rugs. Perhaps that is typical of the region?
view lmchicago's profile
if the pix were taken in the summer then, yes, bare floors.. keep the house cooler.
my relatives in Italy go thru the motions every year.. come late spring they roll up all the carpets in the house and put them in storage til the weather cools down again in the late fall.
gawd I so wish I had a house like that!
view chris_94131's profile
The exterior of the house, the grounds and the view are amazing, but I hate the interior. Looks like a lot of blah European apartments I've seen. Under/poorly decorated with a mishmash of things that perhaps have a pedigree but end up looking like grandmas junk when they are without context. Frankly I was a little shocked that we're getting this from the NYT. And that bathroom? You've got to be kidding.
view splatgirl's profile
Gorgeous. :D
view Vanessa in New York's profile
I sort of agree with splatgirl, although I think the interior is hardly hateable. When I look at the photos, I think the house is amazing, but my eye is mostly drawn to the architectural elements, like the windows, floors, and molding. The "decorating" sort of seems like an afterthought. Of course, I certainly wouldn't refuse a house swap offer from them ;)
view complicatedshoes's profile
This is a wonderful property. I think that the house is decorated and furnished simply, comfortably, and beautifully.
view Downeast Suzy's profile